The Philadelphia 76ers are going to attempt the difficult task of assimilating NBA All-Star Ben Simmons into their team. Simmons’s representation, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul, and 76ers officials had been working hard in figuring out a plan to have him return to the team, and they struck some sort of agreement, as Simmons began the process this week.
His return is going to be a hot topic on social media and sports talk shows as things got contentious during the offseason. Those things cannot be taken back at this point, so working past them to mend fences will be a difficult task.
One of the key figures in all of this is All-Star center, Joel Embiid. He made some disparaging remarks about Simmons following the team’s elimination from the postseason by the Atlanta Hawks in the second round of the playoffs.
Embiid is also one of the reasons that Simmons reportedly wants to leave the 76ers. Embiid is entrenched as their No. 1 option and that is a role Simmons wants to have.
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Embiid was recently caught up with and spoke out about Simmons’s impending return to the team.
“I personally haven’t talked to him since the season ended. Obviously, I tried, but it wasn’t successful as a lot of my teammates have. It’s unfortunate the whole situation happened, but we’re a better team with him on the floor. I think there are going to be some adjustments, but it doesn’t need to be awkward,” Embiid said. “We are professionals, we want to win. I want to win. He gives me the best chance to win, so that’s what I’m going to go with.”
As Bill Parcells said, winning is the best deodorant. That could be the mantra the 76ers go by this season, especially if they are able to convince Simmons to suit up and play in games for them once again.
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Embiid added that he still sees Simmons as a friend of his and that there is no bad blood in this situation, at least from his perspective.
“I don’t have any bad blood with anybody. Ben is a great guy, he’s still a friend of mine, so whenever we do see him, I’m going to greet him like anybody else would,” Joe said Monday. “Hopefully we can get him back on the floor because we are a better team with him on there.”
It sounds as if Joel Embiid is going to do whatever he can to get Simmons back on the court with the team. That may be a tall task, but as he said, the 76ers are certainly a better team with Simmons on it.
